‘Think he’s realised’: Tim Sherwood says Mikel Arteta needs to keep £35m Arsenal player away from his own goal

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Tim Sherwood has been speaking on the Kelly and Wrighty show and says Mikel Arteta needs to keep Arsenal midfielder Granit Xhaka away from his own goal.

Xhaka has enjoyed a resurgence in his Arsenal career of late having put in some excellent displays from central midfield.

The £35 million Swiss international grabbed his second goal of the season against Tottenham on Saturday and secured a 3-1 win for Arteta’s side.

But Sherwood has highlighted the moment which led to Gabriel Magalhaes fouling Richarlison. Xhaka’s poor clearance led to the Brazilian defender lunging in and giving away a penalty for Harry Kane’s goal. 

And Sherwood believes Arteta has realised that he needs to keep Xhaka away from the Arsenal goal.

Arteta needs to keep Xhaka away from own goal

“I think Mikel’s got his identity into that side and I think he’s realised that Granit is not the most responsible,” Sherwood told the Kelly and Wrighty show.

“Even at the weekend, he gives the ball away for the penalty. You need to keep him away from his own goal and he will go back and he will help out.

“He’s all about energy, he’s 100 miles-per-hour and Wrighty’s right – he can drive forward, he can get himself into the box. Like he’s now playing for Arsenal is how he plays his best football for Switzerland.

“Everyone was saying why can’t he produce that for Arsenal? Because he was in a different role and now he’s in exactly the same role. But I think it’s the blend.”

Sherwood did go on to praise the Arsenal man for his recent displays. The former Spurs manager feels he has comeback admirably from his outburst towards the Gunners fans back in 2019.

“I’ve got a lot of time for Granit Xhaka after the reaction was wrong,” Sherwood added.

“I think he’ll admit that if you take the armband off, you’re a captain of the football club and you cannot be sulking like that.

“He probably thought he would never play for the club again but he’s rolled his sleeves up and he’s come back. I see a lot of character in a man who does that and wants to do it at a huge football club.

“He’s obviously looked at other clubs, I think Roma and [Jose] Mourinho were looking to bring him in there. He’s never going to play for a bigger football club than Arsenal and I think it’s hit home to him and he’s realised that and you need to knuckle down. He’s done that and I give him a lot of respect.” 

Xhaka has certainly benefited from playing alongside Thomas Partey in the Gunners midfield. The Ghanaian gives him more of a licence to roam forward and impact the game in an attacking sense.

The 30-year-old has now bagged two goals and three assists from central midfield this season. Xhaka is arguably playing the best football of his career and looks rejuvenated under Arteta.